Torpedo.



G. J. N. CARPENTIER.

TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20.19]?- 1,290,829. Patented Jan. 7,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I. W W" w I i T I I W GEORGES J'. N. CARPENTIER,WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

'I'ORPEDO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1919.

Application filed October 20, 1917. Serial No. 197,632. 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEoRGns J. N. OAR- PENTIER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, re-

siding at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certainnew and use ful Improvements in Torpedoes, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to torpedoes, and more particularly toattachments for submarine torpedoes whereby the same may be convenientlyand practically launched from aeroplanes or the like.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a means or anattachment to convert an ordinary submarine torpedo for the above usage,iwhich alteration or attachment may be easily and quickly accomplished.A further object is to provide an attachment of the above generalcharacter which will be reliable and efficient in use and operation. Afurther object is to provide an attachment of the above generalcharacter having relatively few parts which may be inexpensivelymanufactured and easily installed. A further object is to pro vide meansfor affecting the center of gravity of a torpedo before and afterlaunching.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and inpart indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of thisinvention.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of parts and in the unique relations of the members and inthe relative proportioning and disposition thereof; all as more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend theunderlying features thereof that they may embody the same into thenumerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by thisinvention, drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed as apart of this disclosure, and in such drawings, like characters ofreference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of whichFigure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic view showing the manner in which atorpedo may be launched from an aeroplane, and its course toward thetarget after launching.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the forward part of an'ordinarysubmarine torpedo with the attachment applied thereto.

Fig. 3 is an. enlarged detail view taken on the line 3'-3, Fig. r

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken longitudinally and centrally ofthe forward part of the torpedo with the attachment applied thereto.

Fig, 5 is a front elevational view.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and more particularly Fig. l, 5indicates diagrammatically an aeroplane, or the like, traveling abovethe water toward the target, indicated by the sectional view of a boat6. The aeroplane has launched a torpedo 7, which owing to the speed ofthe aeroplane will follow a trajectory substantially along the lineindicated at 8. This line will vary with the speed and elevation of theaeroplane and may be easily calculated by reference to instrumentscarried thereby. After submergence, an attachment indicated at 10automatically separates from the torpedo 7, as indicated, after whichthe torpedo will pursue its intended course toward the target 6.

In order that the objects sought to be obtained by the present inventionmay be more clearly understood, it may be noted that torpedoes of thesubmarine type now in general use have a center of gravity very closelycoincident with the actual center. Thus, if an ordinary torpedo isdropped or launched from an aeroplane at a distance or elevation greaterthan fifteen feet, there \will be a tendency for such torpedo to turnover with respect to its transverse axis and land in a haphazardposition in the water. Its future course under those conditions cannot,of course, be foreseen. The present invention is therefore directed toovercoming this objection by applying suitable means, such as a falsenose or head, to the torpedo whereby its center of. gravity will beshifted forwardly of the actual center, and also at a point considerablylower than the central horizontal plane. Thus as the torpedo islaunched,it will tend to follow its trajectory without turning on itstransverse axis, or longitudinal axis, and will land in the water inapproximately such desired position as will enable it to free its falsenose and then continue toward the target under its own propelling means,as intended.

The attachment hereinafter described will automatically shift the centerof gravity of the torpedo to the desired location with re spect to itsactual center to accomplish the desired launching in a practical andefficient manner, and after launching to autoi65 lnosengsperniittingthei oap to fall awaydirem matically 'restore the center of gravity 7 ey itmey cont nu tsu szaylas intended suitable material having arelativelyii pluralitysof longitudinal strips-1Q of any tensile strengthunder normal cond=i=t16ns but1'adaptedfto lose such tensile strengthidnnied-iately upon subnue'ngeiice; flidinany V blotting paper, :forexample, wh ich mayf be considered a' semi-solnble fibreu's materiah Vwill-comply with sueh: requineinentsandis 'found =to be exceedinglycheap and p-ra cti'eal. Around the ends; of these longitudinal strip-s12" there is provided atasteni'nig meansuvhieh tect "the internalmechanism is secured ho-"the under side of the body "of-the torzpede Iis 'held in placerbymeansi ofa relatively broad-"strip -16 20f:pape'r-onother suitable be of th e saine or a'sin ilar 3 material :inthe 15orn1- of a tape '16 adapted-to be wound" a plurality' of 'tiinesaround the cap i l-lat. the point or junction between theeap andthe2:longitudinal -strips '13. second stni ofitape 14 is "also Woundaroundpppositeeh s of the longitudinal :s-trips 132 3116. their poi-ntof attachment to the body iof the toriped o l. After these parts'areassembled, a shield 15 of any "desired :length su' fficienttoipromaterial answering the requirements above setfo'rth. Theshie'ld ispreferablyxofsuoh shape as to fit snugly to the -underflsidevo'f the"body o'f the-torpedo, andin the illustrw tionshown in the drawingi-s-substantial'ly 'U-shape cross-"section. The forward end of thisshield is rigidly secured hy "means er I bolts'l 'z 'to the under sieleefth cap, l he 1 cap and shield together Weigh-approximately one-hundredwounds, "i'tjw'ili thus be seen that in :atohpedo weighing- 'appi oxi-"iof the surrounding tapes" 1=4:, there ra 'b'lock l-8 having a longitudi nal' groove in mately ten or;twelve lmndred pounds, the center ofifi ra-vity lw ill' beshifted relativel'y forwardly and downwardly to anextent suf ficient; to lperm it the 'launeh ing of-the teripedo'from theaeroplane with 'th'e assuranee that such torpedo will sou-0w a truetnaffem tory intothe vmte'r- Withoutqtunning; orderto insure'thecomplete' 'severance which. slides az 'knife =or etting tool #20 adaptedto she aotuatedaby d'fa "herd or wirefil secured in eanyeoiivenientapawt of the ifiorwardendof'the nose 'orfs hiel ds theteiip'edois submenged,-= the leng itufilinal strips, 1 12 lbreak and theatapes and 5154 the jter ea; drawing the knife '20 longii u ialeb'lelongit r Sl d t ereby vQ- lf g t "tapesonthe underside of meter-pesowhere thonof the water and insuring the completeseveranceof the'cap.

' *n ish'elieved that the methodof'use-and they are more or lessprotected from the gsoperationiefaazdevice of this character will beclear to those skilled in the art. It is suflicient to state-thatthe.torpedojsis preferably carried between the :p'onto'ons of a V hydropla'rie with its longitudinal axis coin cident with thenorrnal :elireetion of fiightlof' the'hydroplane. Anysuitable=fornrof re lea'singmeans 'm'ay t'be rl'enrpleyed adapted; to

"drop the torpedoiinstantlyat bothtorward' and rear endsg whereupon itwill folloiv, the 1usualitrajeetory, varying of :course With-the speedand 'e'lev a tioln Fat which the aeroplane is'- traveling, and alsoaccording to. its angle of travel with respectzito itlI'G hOTiZOH'C-ZLL'Thus by raising the forwardend of the aeroplane, thewtrajectory willbemuohwlonger V than-would occur ifthevtorw-ard e d-aoslithe "aeroplanewere -Jpei=nted downwardly with respect toithehorizontal. This pointshould be "taken into consideration eluri'ngr -the launching togetherwith =-=the1 approximate speed. 7 1 j :soon 'asithe torpedofstrikeszthe. Water,

the bands holdingthe'cap; and shield; place willalmost'-- iiistantlyloseqtheir tensile. -strength :and owing xto-ithe weight 1of;.-the

' shield =and.rthealmost a neutral buoyancy? :of

the atonpe'do an immediate separation will; occur. The toizpedo williIlliIli'QQhlLbBhY right itselfiand seek its proper :level according toits setti'ng;andwvill'continue :i ts ourney};y

reasonv of its "gyroseopic control-'in-vsubstan tially the samevertieal-plane as;that of its l-aiinehmgttrajectory; j 1 1-,

: Ow ng *to the factfthat wthe height' which the torpedo is V launchedvaries to a oensi'derableextent, with a consequent-varia means'notherein showrnvshou ld loeprovided 'for' starting: the engine of the.torpedo ini mediate}? pon l--submengence. gathereby to avoid racing" oi-thegengiiie during its downward' fligg htiand sudden tion o ftlie sameon suhmergencew From the aboveiit will begsee present invention providesa simple;- praci-' subsequent retard as 111 that the r tieal a andwautoniaticj ineans'ifor shiiting the oenterm f gravity of thejtoiiptl'oi tekthe "de sired location mf-pe mit practical l'aerial:

- launchiuigifiand subsequent -'separati-OII gof theattaehmentwherby'thercenter ofigravity is restored to #the properrelative qoesitioh Ito ena ble' the torpedo topontinuefits {customaryfsubmarine trave'h {j T With'out lf urth erw'analysis, 'theforeg oingwillso rreveal theigistbf this invention that o thers eansbyapplyingeurrent knowledge readily adapt v arious=appl icat-ions withoutomitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art,fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specificaspects of this invention, and therefore such adaptations should and areintended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalencyof the following claims.

I claim as my invention 1. An attachment for torpedoes oomprising ameans for shifting its center of grai ity, including a hollow cap and asubstantially U-shaped extension, semi-soluble means for attaching saidmember to a. torpedo and adapted to rupture when the torpedo issubadapted to fit over the forward end thereof to shift the center (ffgravity forwardly and downwardly, and means for securing said cap on thetorpedo adapted to automatically release the cap when the torpedo issubmerged to restore the center of gravity to its original position,said means being made of fibrous material.

8. In combination with a submarine torpedo, a member including a hollowcap adapted to fit over the forward end thereof to shift the center ofgravity forwardly and downwardly, and means for securing said cap on thetorpedo adapted to automatically release the cap when the torpedo issubmerged to restore the center of gravity to its merged to release saidmember therefrom.

2. An attachment for aerial torpedoes comprising a weighted member andsemisoluble means for attaching the same to the torpedo for shifting itscenter of gravity.

3. An attachment for torpedoes comprising a weighted member and meansfor attaching the same to the torpedo for shifting its center of gravitybefore submerging and automatically restoring the same immediately aftersubmerging.

4. An attachment for aerial torpedoes comprising a false nose or cap,and semisoluble means for attaching said nose to the forward end of atorpedo for automatically shifting the center of gravity immediately onsubmerging whereby the same may be practically launched from aeroplanes.

5. In combination with a submarine tor pedo, an attachment thereforcomprising a cap adapted to fit over the forward end of a torpedo, andmeans adapted to hold said cap in place and automatically release thecap when the torpedo is submerged.

6. In combination with a submarine torpedo, a hollow weighted capadapted to fit over the forward end thereof to shift the center ofgravity forwardly and downwardly, and means for securing said cap on thetorpedo adapted to automatically release the cap immediately when thetorpedo is submerged to restore the center of gravity to its originalposition.

7 In combination with a submarine torpedo, a member including a hollowcap original osition, said means including a plurality of semi-solublestrips of material securing the cap to the body of the torpedo, andmeans carried by the cap adapted to out said strips when the torpedo issubmerged to assist in freeing the cap therefrom.

9. In combination with a torpedo, a hollow cap adapted to fit over thenose of said torpedo, a shield connected with the under side of the capwhereby the center of gravity of the torpedo is shifted forwardly anddownwardly, and means for securing said cap and shield in place andadapted to automatically release the cap and shield as soon as thetorpedo is submerged.

10. In combination with a torpedo, a semi-spherical hollow cap adaptedto fit over the nose of said torpedo. a shield connected with the underside of the cap whereby the center of gravity of the torpedo is shiftedforwardly and downwardly, means for securing said cap and shield inplace and adapted to automatically release the cap and shield as soon asthe torpedo is submerged, said means including a lurality of strips ofblotting paper extending between the cap and shield and the body of thetorpedo, and means adapted to cut the strips as the cap and shield leavethe torpedo after submergence.

Signed at Washington this 29th day of September, 1917.

GEORGES J N. CARPENTIER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Wnhinxton, D. G."

